Fifty Nō Plays, Illustrated (Yōkyoku gojÅ«-ban), 5th of 10 Volumes c. 17th century

Editor: This is the fifth volume of *Fifty Nō Plays, Illustrated* by Tosa Mitsuoki. The light blue and gold feels so delicate and ephemeral, like a faded dream. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a whisper of old stories. Imagine the artist, brush in hand, channeling centuries of Nō theatre tradition. It's more than just illustration; it's a portal, isn’t it? Editor: A portal? That makes sense! The faded colors and almost ghostly fish do have that feeling. Curator: Exactly! It's as if the artist is inviting us to step through the page and into the heart of Japanese folklore. It's beautiful. Editor: Absolutely! I hadn't thought about it like that before. Thanks for sharing your perspective. Curator: My pleasure. Art is always a conversation, wouldn't you agree?